Seahawks Daily Top 10: Kris Richard making his name, and more

Getting an early start to the Daily Top 10 on a day when the Seahawks will be back at it at the VMAC with another practice in preparation for Friday’s game against the Bears at CenturyLink field.

1, We’ll start with Jerry Brewer’s column on defensive backs coach Kris Richard that also includes this insight into how the Seahawks plan to deal with some of the new rules emphasis:

The Seahawks are constantly seeking the next challenge, and for the defensive backs, the new task has been made clear with the NFL emphasizing its rules for defensive holding and illegal contact beyond 5 yards.

Many consider this an effort to minimize the Seahawks’ physical, press-coverage style and keep the rest of the league from copying those methods. Behind their smiles and carefully-worded responses to this scrutiny, the Seahawks have grown more and more irritated with the notion that this rules emphasis is the antidote for the league’s best unit. They’re motivated to show their success isn’t about mauling the opponent. They focus on technique, study film and play with discipline, as well.

“Our sole focus is just to stay true to who we are,” Richard said. “Rules are not designed to help us or not help us. We have 5 yards to use our hands. After that, we’re not trying to push the limits by holding or illegal contact. We coach against it. We teach the right way to do things.

“But after those 5 yards, we can’t magically disappear. We still have the right to defend the wide receiver, within the rules.”

3, Good stuff here from Bucky Brooks of NFL.com, who says Seattle’s offense could be scary good this year, with some good photographic breakdowns of how a healthy Percy Harvin might change things.

4, In case you missed it, Kam Chancellor said on ESPN 710 Seattle yesterday that he’s not in favor of Earl Thomas returning punts, deeming it a risky move. I wrote last night what Carroll thinks — that he’s not worried about Thomas getting hurt. Thomas has also said he has no worries about it.

5, Speaking of the new emphasis by the NFL on illegal contact and pass interference, Dallas owner Jerry Jones becomes the latest to say Seattle’s success is the key reason. What’s interesting is that Seattle has not been called much for such penalties, with none against any of Seattle’s starters in the first two preseason games. Seattle did get three illegal contact penalties in the third quarter of Friday’s game against the Chargers against Jeremy Lane, Philip Adams and Tharold Simon. But the NFL has said, according to Pete Carroll, that the calls on Simon and Adams were in error (though Carroll also said a play involving Byron Maxwell could have been called).

7, More Seahawks represented on ESPN’s list of the top 100 offensive and defensive players in the NFL.

8,Bill Barnwell of Grantland.com concludes that Seattle is the 10th-fastest team in football.

9, In what shouldn’t be a surprise, FootballOutsiders reveals that the Seattle defense was the best in the NFL last year against play action.

10, Former Husky Chris Polk is nursing a hamstring injury, which isn’t helping his bid to keep his job with the Eagles this year. And it really didn’t help Polk when the Eagles Tuesday night traded with Carolina for former Oregon star Kenjon Barner.